Submarine observation-tower.



110. 819,317. 1 11112111211 MAY 1, 1906.

J. E. SHREWSBUHY.

SUBMARINB OBSERVATIUN TOWER- APPLIOATION PILEID my 211, 1905;

EHEETM-SHEET 1. a; 22 E516 No. 819,817. V PATENTED MAY 1, 1906.

J. B. SEREWSBURY;

SUBMAHINE OBSERVATION TOWER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1905. 4

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATE n rnnr .orrios.

JOSEPH E. SHHEWSBURY. OF LONGBEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY MACDAVENPORT, OF LOS ANGELES,

CALIFORNIA.

SUBMARINE osssnvnrlou-rowss.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1 9 06.

Application filed May 26, 1905 Serial No. 262,311.

To all whom if "only IOIH'CTIL:

Be it known that I, JosEPn E. SnnEws BURY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lo'ngbencluin the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Submarine Observation-Tower, of which the following is a. specification.

The main object of this invention s to pro.- vide means whereb access can be had from the surface of a ho y of water to the bed or lower part of such body of water, thus en'- obling inspection orobservetion of the water and contents thereof at depths beyond the range of vision of persons at the surface.

The invention is intended, primarily, as an amusement or entertainment a para tus and may be applied at seaside or hiiieside resorts for the purpose of enabling persons to observe marine life or growths or forms at the bottom or below the surface of a body of water. I

A further object of the invention is to provide at strong and durable construction for the pur ose stated.

Anot er object of the invention'is to provides construction that can be readily at teched or secured in place at any desired location and can be moved from one location to another.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide means for illumination of the water to extend the range of observatiod.

The invention comprises a. tower extending from the bed or floor of the body of water to and above the surface thereof, said tower being provided with ports or windowsclosed with glass to enable persons within the tower to see the'water; and the invention further comprises means for automatic closure or shutting of the port-openingsin case of breakage of the glass therein.

The invention further comprises features.

and details hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure l is a vertical section of the appsrutus. i Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line X X, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line X Xx Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is an enlargement of port of Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line X X" in Fig. I. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of oneof the port-holes or windows with closure devices therefor.

Fig. 6 is an inside view thereof. Fig; 7 is a horizontal section of the lower part of the tower, showings transverse partition uscd temporarily when the tower is being put in place. Fig. 8 is an elevation of an embodiment of the invention including a submarine tunnel and a plurality of towers communicating'through the tunnel.

1 designates or body of water, and J. the bed or floor thereof. 3 designates the tower, which rests on the bed 2 and extends upwardly above the surface of the water. Said tower is desirably located near a pier or where a tower of t lis character would be applied, such epier being indicated zit-4. T ic tower may have a lunding fi, connectedv to' of this eliamber or the portion thereof below the water-level will in general have a flotative capacity considerably in cxccss of the weight of the structure, and the hitter is hcld down through the bolts 8 and nuts l0-aforcsaid by the weight of the foundation 7.

In ordcrto sink the structure into )osition, it is preferable to provide for )nrtin lcmpororyiilling of the structure wit Lwalcr during the sinking operation, and for this purpose the tower may be divided by arc-chiral tronsverse .artition 12, extending from the bot. tom 0' the tower above the water-level and preferably to the extreme top of the towcr. The lower part of this partition nmy luwe rcmovable ortions 12, (sec Fig. 7,) which are dotochabiy bolted to the main purl ilion 12, so that it can be fastened temporarily in plucc while the tower is being sunk. ()n filling one half or side of the towcr with water this flotation will be overcomc, and the tower can be lowered into plncc, the nuit-crinl dug out wharf, such as is 'enerally found at resorts on the dry side, and a concrete foundation with landing to the foundation by nuts 10, and the water can then be pumped out of the other side, which can then be filled at the bottom with concrete and fastened down in a similar man.- ner. After this is done the doors or removable parts 12 can be moved aside or removed altogether from the tower, openings 12" givin free communication between the two sides at the bottom of the tower. The side wall 11 ot the tower extends below the floor 9 to form a caisson or boxing for the concrete fillin A false bottom or floor 9 can be provide( along the base 9 to serve as a promenade and landing.

Suitable means areprovided for facilitating access or transit from the top to the bottom oi the tower, or vice versa, said means consisting, for example, of elevators. 14 14 designate two elevator-cages suspended from and operated by a cable 15, running over a pullev 16 at the top of the tower and operated by a motor 17, which may bQ-lOCfiiOd in any suitable situation-for example, at the bottom of the tower. The cages 14 14 work in elevator-shafts 18, formed on opposite sides of the central partition 12 and provided or means of access atthe top and bottom of the tower.

The bottom or lower end of the tower may be outwardly flared or more or less conical in shape, as shown at 19, the tower proper ex tending upwardly from this conical lower portion in the form of an upright tubular structure, which in order to accommmlatc the two elevators may have ageneral elliptical shape, the partition 12 extending transvcrselv across the ellipse on the line of thc shortdiameter thereof, so as to act as a brace in addition to itsfunction above specified. one side of the tubular shaft may be b a subpartition 20, extending from the to oi the tower to the lower portion thcreol, this space being open at its lower end into the lower portion of the iowcr and being, closed at its up )(I end with the exception of an intake .21, raving a funnel 212 pivotally mounted thereon and provided with a vane .23 for operation by the wind, so that a current of air will be forced through the funnel and down the space aforesaid into the bottom oi the tower to renew the supply of air therein,

set apart the foul air displaced by this fresh air being l'orccd up through the main part of the tower.

.26 dcswnatcs port-holes or windows located at suitab c places in the tower-for example, in the conical lower portion and in the tubular portion al'orcsnid--said port-holes being provided with transparent or glass dates 27 to enable persons standing within the tower to look out into the watcr, the port-holes in the upper or intermediate parts oi the tower being for the purpose of enabling such 'observation to be made whilc asccnding'or dcsccnding in the elevators and thc port-holes in the lower portion of thetower beim for The spa cc at 'ceive screw-plugs 45 at).

the purpose of" enabling observation by persons whqhave dcscemied to the bottom or the tower.

In order to prevent risk of ii ling the tower i, i.

with water in case of breakage. or the glass in any of the port-hoies, each of the latter is preferably provided with a protective device consisting, for example, of a shutter 28, slidably mounted in guides :29 on the outside of the tower structure and norumi heid in position above and clear breakage of the'glass in the port-hole to en able it to fall into position in front of the glass and out off the inflow of water.

30 designates a flange or projection to limit the downward movement of the shah ter.

The automatic means for release ofl'the shutter may consist of a triplet/er 3i, pivotally mounted on the inside of the tower and aving an arm or projection 3 1 dog 32, normaiiy heid in position to catch of the glass, but 2 adapted to be automatically released on engaging aunder a pivoted arm 33, connected by a rod 34 to an arm 35 on roeitshaft 35, extending through the wali. E the ton-er and pr sided on the outside of the tower with an arm 37, pivotally connected with the shutter 28 arorcsaid. A sprm 2., engaging with the arm at and with a hired brat, et 36- suppiements the action of gravi in depre wine the shutter. The tripdever til provided with a shelf, trough, or ledge -10, located below and in front of the port in such manner that when the giass in said port is broken the inrushint "water will strike hedge and tip the said lever to cause disengagement of the dog 32 from arm 33, whereupon the shutter will be released and will i'ali to closed posit ion.

42 designates lights or iampa, gar-ti electric, f or ill uminating the water outs. s oi the tower, such lamps being preferably mounted in such manner that they can be withdrawn into the body of the #mrer for protection or for cleaning. The holder or support for each iamp comprises a tube. 43, extending outwardiy from the tower and screwed in collars -24, fastened on the wall of the tower, said internally A rod 47 extends through plug 45 and is attached at its outer end to plug Mi said rod being provided at its inner end with a hand-wheel 45;, wherein; it. may be rotated to screw the ping 4a. A stniling-box -19 may be provided where the rod 47 extends through the plug 45. Lamp 42 is carried by a pin 4-6. and'said plug also preferably carries a gas; case or lantern 50, surrounding the lamp 413, the outer and of such lantern being closed by a serew-plug 5i,

tube being serew-ti1readed oi its inner and outer ends to readapted to screw into the screwdog at the I outer end of the plug 48 and having a Range or head 52 to bear against the outer endof; said tube to make a tight oint. when the;

the lamp carried thereby.

lamp is to be withdrawn or retraeted-ior ex ample, in case of danger from a storm or in case the lamp has to be cleaned or renewedhandle 48 is operated to screw the plug lfi inwardly out of the engagement with the screw thread at the outer end of the tube 47 and to screw the plug 51 into tight engagement with the outer end of the tube 47, thereby sealing the tube. In case it is desired to remove the lamp the screw-plug 45 is withdrawn from the tube 47 ,and by means of suitable longhandled socket -wrenches the bolts 53 are loosened and the rod 47 withdrawn from the tube, together with the Lamps 42 are preferably electric lamps, supgllriled with currentthrough leads'58, ex-

ten g down through the tower.

The tower forms in itself a water-tight 2o chamber or vessel which can be floated and towddto the desired position and then sunk and secured i n place as above described.

It at an time it is desired to change the location 0 the tower, it is onl necessary to release the fasteninge 10, whereupon the tower will rise to the surface an can be .towed to a new location and fastened thereat by means above described, the only waste ofmaterial being thefoundation. Theinventlon may be carried out in varius ways, according to the local require- .ments. 'In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 a'lateral extension or submarine tunnel 55 'fiB provided, extending from and. communieating with the lower part. of tower 3, and a tower '53 is provided, extianding upwardly from this tunnel. The tunnel 55, as well as :.towers 3 ,and 53, mayhe provided with filassed port-holes or windows 26 and with 40 luminating means 42. The tower 53 is of similar oonstruction to tower 3 and may be rovided with similar elevator means 14. ach of the towers may have windows 26' above the water-level for observation. 45. What I claim is- "1'. A fixed submarine observation-tower attached to a submarine bed and extending V from said had to and above the level of the water and having observationropenings pro vided with trans )arent closures.

- 2. A fixed submarine 0bservati0n-tower attached to a submarine bed and extending above and below the water-level, and profyided below the water with obaerva'tion opem 55 lugs .lmving transparent losure and with; illuuunatlng means exteriorlv of the tower,

" said means consisting of electric lan d-jsupply connections extending e"towe1"to said lamps. I

fixed submarine observation -.tower dtoasubinarine bed and extending and below the 'watcrdevel and proyidedjbelow the water with observation-onenugs having transparent closures and with llluminating means exteriorly of the tower ate screw-plug 46 and Avatar-level and with il the towerextending from above to elow the "water-level and means for supplying air lentil-1 tower and retract'ile supports for said illuminating means.

5. A submarine observation-tower extending below and above the water-level and provided below the surface of the water ith observation-openin s and with illuminating means exteriorly of the tower and a movable closure for the illuminating means.

6. A fixed submarine observation-tower attached to a submarine bed extending above and below the water-level and being provided with observation-o enings below the lilminating means above and below the water exteriorly of the tower and a removable support for the illuminating means.

7. A submarine observation-tower extendin below and above the water-level and provided with observation-openings below the waterlevel, and elevator means Working. within the tower and provided with means of access thereto at the top and bottom of the 5 tower.

' 8. A fixed submarine observation-tower ormed as a water-tight vessel and provided at its bottom with foundation-attaching means in combination with. a submarine foundation on which the tower is fastened by said attaching means.

9. A submarine observation-tower formed as a water-tight vessel and provided at its v bottom with a depending caisson-flan e and 105 with-means for attachment to a foun ation.

10. A submarine observationtower extending below and above the Water level and having a partition extending vertically therein.

11. A submarine observationtower extending below and above the water-level and having a vertical partition with o enings at its lower portion and removable e osures for said openings.

' 12. A fixed submarine observation-tower attached to a submarine bed extending below and above the water-level and rovided with observation-openings, a venti atin duct in through said duct.

13. A submarine observation-tower ex tending below and above the water-level and provided below the water with observation- .opemn s and lass closures for said'openings and shines f or said openings. submarine o servation tower ex below andabovethewaterdevel and provided below the waterde fiel with observa- .1 0

tion-openin s, and lass closures for said vided with a laterally-extending tunnel hav openings, s utters or said openings and ing observation-openings with transparent means for automatically closing the said closures. g

shutters on breakage ofthe glass closures. 17. A submarine observation tower pro- 5 15. A submarine observation-tower ex vided with a laterallv-extendin tunnel and 20 tending below and above the Water-level and another tower extending upwar 1y from said provided below the water-level with observatunnel and having observation-openings with tion-openings and glass closures for said opentransparent closures. ings, shutters for said openingsand means In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ID for automatically closing the said shutters on my hand, at Longbeach, California, this 5th 2 breakage of the glass closure, said means comday of May, 1905.

prising a trip device located in a path of in- JOSEPH E. SHREWSBURY. flowing Water, from said opening and con- In presence of-' trolling the movement of sald shutters. WILLIAM- S: STEVENS,

-15 16. A submarine observation-tower pr'o- BERTHA HILLARY. 

